[UPDATE] Shakespeare and Popular Music Colloquium, September 6, 2010

2010 Shakespeare and Popular Music Conference and Colloquium School of English and Theatre Studies University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada September 6, 2010

"If music be the food of love, play on" – William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night (I.i.1)

"See I'm a poet to some, a regular modern day Shakespeare, Jesus Christ the King of these Latter Day Saints here" – Eminem, "Renegade"

The Shakespeare and Popular Music Conference and Colloquium, in conjunction with the University of Guelph's School of English and Theatre Studies, invites proposals for papers to be presented at our first annual interdisciplinary conference in Guelph. This year's colloquium will take place on September 6, 2010, as part of the University of Guelph's Orientation Week activities, and will bring together a wide range of scholars, performance artists, and members of the general public. This conference will aim to promote an in-depth examination of the ways in which Shakespeare is being used and adapted in contemporary and historical music culture. Special interest will be paid to adaptations of Shakespeare through, and in, the music of diasporic cultures.

The Shakespeare and Popular Music Conference is now inviting proposals for papers that explore the relationship between Shakespeare and popular music culture from two distinct, yet interrelated areas: Shakespeare adapted into Popular Music, and Popular Music used in adaptations of Shakespeare. We welcome submissions from a range of disciplines within the humanities and social sciences that can speak to both an academic and general audience.

Possible topics might include, but are not limited to:

•Intercultural/musical adaptations of Shakespeare •Shakespeare in Popular Music (from Bob Dylan to Taylor Swift, and otherwise) •Popular Music as a pedagogical tool for teaching Shakespeare •Shakespeare and Popular Music as sites of community and/or social change •"Talking Back" to power using musical adaptations of Shakespeare •"Commercial" Shakespeare vs. "Indie" Shakespeare

It is our hope to facilitate an environment that promotes research, study, and question into this burgeoning area of academic inquiry while also inviting researchers and members of the Guelph community to participate in a unique learning opportunity. We look forward to hearing from interested applicants.

Please send 250-500 word abstracts, detailing your intended discussion and key texts considered, or completed papers (for an approximately 20 minute delivery), along with a short personal biography, to hiphopshakespeare@gmail.com.

Deadline for submission: April 19, 2010 (Responses by approximately May 1, 2010)